Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan topped the speed chart as seven drivers representing four IndyCar Series teams tested the 16-turn, 2.38-mile road course at Barber Motorsports Park.
Kanaan recorded a quick lap of 1 minute, 9.7430 seconds (118.722 mph) in his #11 Team 7-Eleven Honda-powered Dallara at the test, which allowed IndyCar Series officials to evaluate technical changes for the 2008 season.
Scott Dixon, driving the #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing's car, was utilizing the paddle shift system that will be implemented during road/street races, beginning with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in April. The variable ratio steering rack was on Helio Castroneves' #3 Team Penske car.
“I think it makes the car easier to drive; it's not as difficult physically,” said Dixon, the 2007 IndyCar Series championship runner-up. “You're more relaxed in the car; you don't have other things to think about. All you have is knowing how many gears you have to go down and pushing the little lever.
“In the race, you won't have people making as many mistakes (as using the sequential shift gearbox off the driver's right thigh). People who were losing speed because they weren't as good with their technique and downshifting will improve their lap times quite a bit. It will make it a lot easier for them.
“I prefer the sequential box that we had, but for safety and technology it's definitely the way to go. I think there's still room for improvement by smoothing out the shifts.”
IndyCar Series and Honda Performance Development officials will address issues brought up by Dixon, but the system is “99 percent there,” according to IndyCar Series senior technical director Les Mactaggart.
“The pneumatics and electronics are the final version,” he said. “The interface is a megaline system and they are currently used on the Audi sports car, the Peugeot Le Mans car and the Porsche ALMS car. We think it's the best system there is from a customer point of view. It's already been developed.”
